Top 50 Kentucky Wildcats Prior to John Calipari Era
Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats mascot dances as he leads the team to the court for the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament against the Connecticut Huskies at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
50. Patrick Sparks
When I think about Patrick Sparks, there is one vivid memory that comes to mind…beating the Louisville Cardinals, one of the sweetest feelings there is. Sparks sinked three vital free throws to seal the win over the Louisville Cardinals in 2004, after being fouled taking a three pointer at the end of the game.
After playing basketball for the University of Kentucky, Sparks took his talents and played on the other side of the world. Sparks saw playing time in a handful of countries. He started international play in Russia, then Portugal, followed by some time in Germany, Ukraine and Slovakia.
Kentucky.com asked Sparks about his memory of the win over the Cardinals and he had quite a bit to say, take a look,
"His most vivid memory of Kentucky’s 60-58 victory over Louisville isn’t of making the winning free throws. “The biggest thing I remember is us getting whupped really bad in the first half,” he said, “and having one of those real, good, strong halftime speeches. You know what I mean? (chuckle). I remember that.” In that 2004 game in Freedom Hall, Louisville led 32-16 at halftime. U of L outrebounded UK 22-13 in the first half. The Cats made only five of 24 shots in the first half. When asked if then-UK Coach Tubby Smith delivered the “strong” halftime speech, Sparks said, “Oh, yeah. Him and, I think, everybody else on the staff threw in a couple words, too. “We weren’t executing on offense. Not in the right places. Could be Louisville was playing good ‘D.’ I don’t remember. But I do remember that halftime speech.” Kentucky rallied in the second half, but trailed 58-57 when Louisville’s Larry O’Bannon made two free throws with 15.2 seconds remaining. Smith called timeout with 4.8 seconds left. Sparks inbounded the ball, then took a return pass after stepping inbounds. Sparks had the presence of mind to fake a shot, then jump into a still airborne Ellis Myles. With six-tenths of a second showing on the clock, head referee Gerald Boudreaux checked the sideline monitor to see (1) if time had expired before the foul, (2) if Sparks was inbounds and (3) if Sparks would shoot two or three free throws."
There are a few more games that stand out in my mind in regards to Patrick Sparks, but this is the one game that many Kentucky fans can relate to and many will remember.
Next: Fan Favorite